If you can’t find your immunization records and don’t know which ones you’ve gotten, go ahead and get additional doses anyway. There’s no harm in getting an extra dose of most immunizations, Maura Sammon, MD, an associate professor of clinical emergency medicine at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, tells SELF. As a rule of thumb: “If you’re not sure, get it,” she says.
What diseases to be aware of and protect yourself against before your trip
Okay, on to the illnesses and preventive measures to have on your radar! Here’s what to know about how to keep yourself safe during your exciting international travels.
Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B
Recommended if you’re traveling to: Africa, Asia, Central and South America, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, the western Pacific, and the Caribbean
When to get vaccinated: At least a month before your trip
Hepatitis A and hepatitis B are two very different diseases, both of which can hurt the liver, but there’s a combined hep A/hep B vaccine that you can get if you haven’t been immunized against either one (or just don’t know what you’ve been vaxxed for in the past). You can get this on an expedited schedule too, if you’re up against the clock: Typically this shot is given over the course of six months, but in a pinch, three doses can be administered in 21 days. There are also shots specifically for hep A and hep B, respectively, if you know you’ve been vaccinated for one, but not the other.
In terms of what these diseases are, let’s start with hepatitis A. It’s a very contagious liver infection that’s transmitted through contaminated food and water or contact with an infected person. The symptoms, such as fatigue, nausea, and jaundice, can last up to two months (and, for some unlucky people, up to six months). Pretty much every country in the world recommends travelers get this shot (which, by the way, requires two doses given six months apart, but even one dose provides strong protection). “It is the most recommended vaccine for travel,” Dr. Sammon says.
Hepatitis B is a much more serious liver infection that can be deadly. It’s spread through bodily fluids (like blood, semen, or vaginal fluids), most commonly through sexual contact with someone who’s infected (there are an estimated 350 million hepatitis B carriers globally). It can also be transmitted through sharing personal care items (like a razor or toothbrush) or getting a tattoo or piercing from unsterilized equipment.
